It was the "perfect" marriage that wasn't. For thirteen years, the image of Tom Brady with Gisele Bündchen was the gold standard for celebrity power couples. He had the rings; she had the runway. They had the $17 million "Billionaire Bunker" mansion in Miami and a lifestyle that looked like a permanent Vogue shoot. But then, it all just... stopped.
Honestly, the split in late 2022 felt like a glitch in the Matrix for fans who grew up watching them dominate their respective industries. Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape looks entirely different. Gisele has remarried and started a new family, while Brady is navigating a post-retirement life that’s more about the broadcast booth and "parenting f***-ups" than Super Bowl parades.
The Breaking Point Nobody Wanted to Admit
People love to speculate about why things went south. Was it the "un-retirement"? Probably. When Brady decided to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2022—just 40 days after saying he was done—it wasn't just a sports headline. It was a domestic earthquake.
Gisele didn't exactly hide her feelings. She told Elle magazine that she wanted him to be "more present." She’d done her part, moving from Boston to Tampa, raising Benjamin and Vivian, and supporting his obsession with being the GOAT. Basically, she was tired of being the only one holding down the fort while he was out chasing one more trophy at age 45.
By October 2022, the papers were signed. It was surprisingly fast. No messy, multi-year court battle like you see with other A-listers. They had a prenup, they had their own massive fortunes (Gisele is actually worth more, roughly $400 million to Tom's $300-$350 million), and they seemingly just wanted out.
Gisele’s New Chapter: Joaquim Valente and the 2025 Baby
If you haven't kept up, Gisele’s life has pivoted hard. She didn't just move on; she reinvented her family dynamic. She started dating her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valente, in mid-2023. It started as a friendship—she even shut down rumors of any "overlap" with her marriage to Tom, calling those claims lies in a New York Times interview.
The big shocker? In February 2025, Gisele gave birth to her third child, a baby boy, with Valente. By December 2025, they were married in a quiet, intimate ceremony in Surfside, Florida.
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There’s been some chatter in the tabloids about her family being worried about the "wealth disparity" between a world-famous supermodel and a martial arts instructor. There's even talk about "loopholes" in their prenup. But Gisele’s Instagram tells a different story—one of "recharging," "gratitude," and a way more low-key life than she ever had with the NFL spotlight.
Tom Brady’s "Parenting F***-Ups" and Life After Football
While Gisele was building a new life in Florida, Tom was dealing with the fallout of being a single dad in the public eye. 2024 was a weird year for him. Remember the Netflix Roast?
He admitted recently on the Impaulsive podcast that the roast was a "parenting f***-up." The jokes about his divorce and Gisele’s new relationship didn't just land with the audience—they landed with his kids. He said it felt like a "stake through the heart" when he talked to them the next day.
How they co-parent in 2026
Despite the awkwardness of the roast and the "cryptic" social media posts that pop up whenever Gisele hits a milestone, they actually have a system. They’ve agreed on some pretty specific ground rules for Ben and Vivi:
- No spoiled kids: Even with nearly a billion dollars between the parents, the kids aren't allowed to just coast on wealth.
- Homegrown food: They both stay strict on the diet stuff—lots of organic, plant-based meals.
- Giving back: Community service is a non-negotiable part of their schedule.
- No forced football: Brady has explicitly said he isn't pushing his sons to follow his path unless they truly want to.
The Financial Reality of the Split
When you look at Tom Brady with Gisele through a financial lens, it’s one of the few times a "divorce settlement" didn't result in someone losing half their shirt.
| Asset | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Miami Mansion | Brady kept the "Billionaire Bunker" construction. |
| Costa Rica Estate | This was always Gisele’s happy place; she kept the primary holdings there. |
| Net Worth | Gisele remains the higher earner with a portfolio around $400 million. |
| Brady's Fox Deal | His 10-year, $375 million contract ensured his post-NFL income stayed massive. |
The split was essentially a "keep what you brought" situation. Gisele had been the highest-paid model in the world for nearly two decades. She didn't need his football money, and he didn't need her brand money.
Where They Stand Today
As of early 2026, Brady is mostly seen in the Fox broadcast booth or being spotted at New Year's Eve parties in St. Barths with influencers like Alix Earle. He tells people he "doesn't have much time for a personal life" because he’s too busy with his kids and his business ventures with Fanatics.
Gisele, on the other hand, has leaned into her Brazilian roots and a more spiritual, holistic lifestyle. She’s still the face of major brands, but you’re more likely to see her doing yoga or training jiu-jitsu than walking a red carpet.
The era of Tom and Gisele as a unit is long gone, and honestly, they both seem better for it. He got to finish his career on his terms (mostly), and she got the domestic peace she was screaming for in those final years.
Real-World Takeaways for Navigating Big Transitions
- Prioritize the Kids' Perspective: As Brady learned from the Netflix roast, public venting or humor regarding an ex can have a "stake through the heart" effect on children. Keep the adult drama away from the dinner table.
- Financial Independence is Peace of Mind: The reason their divorce was finalized in weeks, not years, was their clear financial boundaries. Keeping separate accounts and a solid prenup isn't "unromantic"—it’s a safety net for everyone involved.
- Accept the New Normal: Gisele’s move to marry someone from her "inner circle" (her instructor) highlights a common post-divorce trend: seeking stability and shared values over high-profile glamour.
Whether you're a fan of the Bucs, the Patriots, or Victoria's Secret, the story of Tom and Gisele is a reminder that even the most "perfect" lives require hard resets.
Check your own estate planning or co-parenting agreements to ensure they reflect your current reality, much like the Brady-Bündchen "rules" evolved to fit their new lives.